Sessions
Concurrent Session: Science-informed wetland regulation
10:40 AM - 12:00 PM Wed
ORAL PRESENTER
TITLE: Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust: Moving towards mitigating for wetland functional values
ABSTRACT: Since November 2014, the Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, which manages the In-Lieu Fee mitigation program, has sold more than 400 wetland mitigation credits and constructed 15 mitigation projects. This talk compares the wetland type and acreage impacted through permit authorizations that were mitigated through the purchase of ILF credits to the wetland type and acreage of ILF wetland mitigation sites, both in Wisconsin and in the Upper Illinois Service Area. This analysis reveals the limitations of assessing wetland functional values under the current mitigation crediting model and the potential benefits of developing a wetland quantification tool to better offset wetland functional losses.
BIO: Tom Pearce has managed wetland mitigation projects, finance, and policy with the Wisconsin DNR's Wetland Conservation Trust since 2018. Tom holds Master's degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Water Resources Management from the UW-Madison. His favorite wetland so far is Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area in Jackson County.